Tennis Shoe Kit With Customizing Components

ABSTRACT

A tennis shoe kit that includes a tennis shoe with a wide lower side, a tongue opening, a lower vamp, a hook or loop connector pad attached to the inside surface of the vamp, a plurality of eyelet holes formed on opposite sides of the tongue opening, at least two replaceable tongues each with a complementary hook and loop connector pad attached to its lower edge configured to connect to the hook or loop connector pad attached to the inside surface of the vamp, a set of manually attachable eyelets configured to be selectively attached to the eyelet holes, and at least two elastic bands with ornamental features printed or attached to its outer surface, each band is configured to extend entirely around the outside surface of the outsole of the tennis shoe.

This utility patent application is based on and claims the filing datebenefit of U.S. provisional patent application (Application No.63/174,185) filed on Apr. 13, 2021.

The following patent document contains original material subject tocopyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to thefacsimile or digital download reproduction of all or part of the patentdocument but otherwise reserves all copyrights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to footwear and, more particularly, to tennisshoes with features that the wearer can customize.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is common for young individuals to customize their apparel visually.Ideally, the customizing changes they make should be temporarily so theapparel can return to its original appearance or be further customized.Also, the changes to the apparel should not affect or impact theapparel's comfort, durability, or functionality.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the visual parts of a tennis shoe, whenworn, include the outsole, the heel counter, the upper section, thevamp, the tongue, eyelets, and the shoelaces. While different coloredshoelaces may replace the shoelaces, the appearance of the outsole, theheel counter, the upper area, the vamp, the tongue, and the eyelets cannot be altered.

What is needed is a tennis shoe kit with components that allow a user toselectively altered the appearance of the outsole, the heel counter, theupper area, the vamp, the tongue, and the eyelets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tennis shoe kit that includes a tennis shoe shell with a wide lowerside tongue opening, a lower vamp, a hook or loop connector pad attachedto the inside surface of the vamp, plurality of eyelet holes formed onopposite sides of the tongue opening, at least two replaceable tongueseach with a complementary hook and loop connector pad attached to itslower edge configured to connect to the hook or loop connector padattached to the inside surface of the vamp, a set of eyelets configuredto be selectively attached to the eyelet holes, and at least two elasticbands with ornamental features printed or attached to its outer surface,each band is configured to extend entirely around the outside surface ofthe tennis shoe shell.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a tennis shoe found in the priorart.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tennis show found in the prior art.

FIG. 3 is aside perspective view of a tennis shoe shell made with thetennis shoe kit disclosed herein.

FIG. 4 top plan view of the tennis shoe shell.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of two tongue members.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of two sets of eyelets.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of one eyelet shown in FIG. 6 insertedinto the eyehole formed on the tennis shoe shell.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of two elastic bands

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of two sets of hook laces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

A tennis shoe kit 6 that includes a tennis shoe shell 7 with wide loweroutside 8, a tongue opening 9, a lower vamp 10, a plurality of eyeletholes 11 (see FIG. 9 ), and a hook or loop connector pad 12 attached tothe inside surface of the vamp 10 near the lower edge of the tongueopening 9.

Kit 6 also includes at least two replaceable tongues 20, 20′ shown inFIG. 5 , each with a complementary hook and loop connector pad 22attached to its lower edge configured to connect to the hook or loopconnector pad 12 attached to the inside surface of the vamp 10. Thetongue 20, 20′ may be made of the same material as the vamp 10 and havedifferent colors or surface features or textures creating a differentvisual appearance.

Kit 6 also includes at least two sets of eyelets 32, 32′ configured tobe selectively attached to the eyelet holes 11 (shown in FIG. 2 ) formedaround the lateral edges of the tongue opening 9. As shown more clearlyin FIG. 7 , each eyelet 32 or 32′ comprises a top cap 33 and a bottominsert member 37. A top cap 33 is a cylindrical body 34 with a centerbore 35 and internal threads 36A. The cylindrical body 34 isapproximately ⅛ inch in length and configured to extend through theeyelet holes formed on the tennis shoe shell 7. The bottom insert member37 includes a cylindrical body 38 with a center bore 39. Externalthreads 36B are formed on the cylindrical body 38 are configured to meshwith the internal threads 36A on the top cap 33. Top cap 33 and bottominsert member 37 may be replaced by a top cap and bottom insert memberthat manually snap together.

The kit 6 also includes at least two elastic bands 40, 40′ each withunique ornamental features printed or attached to its outer surface.Each band 40,40′, shown more clearly in FIG. 8 , is configured to extendentirely around the outside surface of the outer sole 8. Attached toeach band 40, 40′ are a plurality of hook and loop connector pads 42configured to connect to complementary hook and loop pads 16 attached tothe outside surface of the outer sole 8. The hook and loop pads 16 mayalso be included in kit 6 or provided separately by the user.

The kit 6 also includes at least one set of elastic shoelaces 50, 50′.Each shoelace 51, 51′ in each set of elastic shoelaces 50, 50′ includesan elastic band 53, 53′ with upward extending hooks 54, 54′,respectively, attached to its opposite ends. Each hook 54, 54′ extendsupward and bends inward, enabling hook 54, 54′ to capture the eyelets32, 32′ on opposite sides of the tongue opening. Elastic bands 53, 53′in each set 50, 50′ may be the same color or different colors.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features.It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe particular features shown since the means and construction showncomprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention intoeffect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modificationswithin the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims,appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.

I claim:
 1. A tennis shoe kit, comprising: a. a tennis shoe with a widelower side, a tongue opening, a lower vamp, a hook or loop connector padattached to the inside surface of the vamp, plurality of eyelet holesformed on opposite sides of the tongue opening, b. at least tworeplaceable tongues each with a complementary hook and loop connectorpad attached to its lower edge configured to connect to the hook or loopconnector pad attached to the inside surface of the vamp, c. a pluralityof eyelets configured to be selectively attached to the eyelet holes,and, d. at least two elastic bands with ornamental features printed orattached to its outer surface, each band is configured to extendcompletely around the outside surface of the tennis shoe.
 2. The tennisshoe kit, as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of eyeletsconfigured to insert into said eyelet holes, each said eyelets includestop cap and a cap configured to be manually connected together.
 3. Thetennis shoe kit, as recited in claim 2, wherein said top cap and capincludes threads that mesh together.
 4. The tennis shoe kit as recitedin claim 1, further including a set of elastic shoelaces configured toextend across said tongue opening and connect to eyelets holes formed onopposite sides of said tongue opening.
 5. The tennis shoe kit, asrecited in claim 4, further including hooks attached to the oppositeends of said each said elastic shoelace.
 6. The tennis shoe kit asrecited in claim 2, further including a set of elastic shoelacesconfigured to extend across said tongue opening and connect to eyeletsholes formed on opposite sides of said tongue opening.
 7. The tennisshoe kit, as recited in claim 6, further including hooks attached to theopposite ends of said each said elastic shoelace.
 8. The tennis shoe kitas recited in claim 3, further including a set of elastic shoelacesconfigured to extend across said tongue opening and connect to eyeletsholes formed on opposite sides of said tongue opening.
 9. The tennisshoe kit, as recited in claim 8, further including hooks attached to theopposite ends of said each said elastic shoelace.